CRIMINAL INCIDENTS in Victoria to September 30, is up 15 per cent according to the latest crime statistics released last week with family incidents up 9.5 per cent from 93,232 to 102,082.
“Family incidents have reached their highest levels ever in Victoria, exceeding 100,000 in a year for the first time. There have been increases in incidents involving serious assaults, particularly aggravated assaults against females and threats of serious injury,” CSA Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said.
“Aggravated assaults on females frequently coincided with breaches of family violence orders, criminal damage, and common assault, contributing to the overall increase in family incident-related offences.”
According to the reports, a total of 431,683 incidents were reported to police in the year to September 30 up from 375,460 in 2013.
This year has seen a spike in property and deception offences, up 19.23 per cent (2023: 278,746).
In Bass Coast, the total offence count is up 17.1 per cent. The top five offences in order were: breaches of family violence orders (645 breaches, up 46 per cent), criminal damage (336), other theft (235), steal from motor vehicle (172) and family violence common assault (168 – up 12 per cent)
Residential aggravated burglary rose 104 per cent, with 43 offences recorded this year, up from 21 last year, whilst residential non-aggravated dropped 5.4 per cent, alongside non-residential non-aggravated by 25 per cent.
Theft increased with motor vehicles rising from 73 stolen last year to 116 this year (58.9 per cent) and stealing from a motor vehicle rising by 22.8 per cent.
Crime statistics also showed a jump in drug trafficking in Bass Coast rising 175 per cent from eight recorded offences last year to 22 this year.
There were also four explosive offences recorded this year (up from one offence in 2023).
In the justice procedure offences, there were 645 breaches of family violence orders (up 46 per cent), whilst intervention order breaches rose 97.4 per cent (77 offences).
Aggravated robbery against a person is up 140 per cent (12 offences from five offences) with non-aggravated robbery sitting at 200 per cent increase (six offences this year from two last year).
Arson is also up 58.3 per cent this year.
This year also saw the greatest number of offenders in Bass Coast in the 10-17 years of age category jumping to 217 offenders this year. A 145.6 per cent increase from five years ago when a low of 88 was recorded.
Offenders aged 18-24 jumped 81.6 per cent from last year to 225.
“The crime statistics validate community concern about rising crime in our region and highlight the Allan Government’s failures in protecting community safety,” Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath MP said.
“Residents of Bass Coast and South Gippsland have told me they are feeling more vulnerable, which is supported by the latest statistics from the Crime Statistic Agency.
Ms Bath acknowledged that the rise in crime “is a trend that must be reversed”.
“Our hardworking police officers are under resourced with over 1000 vacancies statewide. It is beyond frustrating for police members who work hard to get offenders off the street, only for bail granted through the court.
“It unacceptable on every level to know that in Victoria a car is being stolen every 20 minutes.”
Over in South Gippsland, the rise in crime is less significant up 10.1 per cent year on year (to September 30).
There was a vast rise in residential aggravated burglaries up 1400 per cent with 15 offences recorded against one last year, with one non-residential aggravated burglary this year. Residential non-aggravated burglary dropped 8.5 per cent decreasing to 86 offences this year.
The top five offences in South Gippsland in order were breach family violence order (391), criminal damage (195), other theft (172), breach bail conditions (157) and obtain benefit by deception.
Motor vehicle theft and steal from motor vehicle both rose 71.4 per cent and 59.5 per cent respectively with 108 vehicles stolen to September 30, 2024, and 118 thefts from motor vehicles.
“We’ve seen a continuation of the increase in crime in our region, with the number of offences in South Gippsland Shire up 10 per cent year-on-year and up 72 per cent in the 10 years Labor has been in office,” Danny O’Brien MP, State Member for Gippsland South and Leader of The Nationals stated.
“There was a disturbing increase in the number of aggravated burglaries in the Shire, up from just one to 15 and a 71 per cent increase in motor vehicle thefts.
“We know that a large number of these offences have been committed by a small cohort who have been repeatedly bailed and have subsequently re-offended…”
One of the largest jumps in criminal activity in South Gippsland was obtain benefit by deception which rose 214 per cent this year.
Six offences were recorded for cultivate or manufacture drugs.
There were significantly less breaches of justice procedures in South Gippsland compared to Bass Coast with family violence order breaches rising 1.8 per cent to 391, whilst intervention order breaches rose 34 per cent to 51 offences. Bail condition breaches decreased by 21 per cent.
There were 13 more alleged offender incidents for those aged 10-17 years of age (128) with 18-24 years rising from 96 to 121. Offenders aged 30-34 dropped from 108 (2023) to 89 this year.
“Over the past year, Bass Coast and South Gippsland has experienced an increase in home burglaries and car thefts. Unfortunately, many of these crimes have occurred because homes and vehicles were left unlocked. Our message is simple: secure your property and remove valuables from plain sight,” Bass Coast Local Area Police Commander Inspector Cath Middleton said.
“Addressing family violence is a core focus for police. Over the past year, breaches of family violence intervention orders have increased by 46 per cent across Bass Coast. This rise reflects both our proactive approach to holding offenders accountable and increased confidence of victims in reporting incidents to police.
“In the last month, we have arrested six people for alleged burglaries and car thefts across Bass Coast and South Gippsland. Police also recovered and returned $30,000 of stolen property back to their rightful owners. Police will continue to make arrests and conduct daily patrols of the community along with regular bail compliance checks on repeat offenders. Local detectives are working tirelessly, knocking on doors of known perpetrators to ensure they are complying and held to account.”
